Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

EU Programmes: Announcement of £484m immediate investment for the UK R&D and fusion sectors

George Freeman: The government is announcing today a package of up to £484m funding to invest in the UK R&D sector and to secure the UK fusion sector’s commercial leadership and capabilities, while the EU continues to block our association. The ongoing uncertainty over access to EU Programmes (Horizon, Copernicus, Euratom R&T and Fusion for Energy) is placing increasing pressure on UK universities and research organisations, as well as causing significant issues for the UK’s Fusion and Earth Observation sectors. UK researchers should already be part of these programmes. However the EU have now delayed our association for nearly two years. The UK has done everything it can to secure association, including entering into formal consultations to encourage the EU to implement their obligations. It remains the Government’s preference to associate to EU R&D programmes and the Government remains ready to discuss association with the EU, but we cannot wait forever. Our priority is to invest in the UK’s R&D sector, whether through association or, if delays continue, alternative measures. The investments announced today include:£30m Talent and Research Stabilisation Fund.£100m Quality-Related (QR) funding for English universities with additional funding for the Devolved Administrations.£200m for UK Research Infrastructures.£42.1m for the Fusion Industry Programme.£84m for Joint European Torus (JET) Operations. Over the last few months, officials and I have consulted widely with the research community - this package responds to what we have been hearing are their biggest challenges. These investments are UK wide and will provide targeted support during this time of uncertainty. They aim to support staff retention and local talent strategies at eligible universities and research organisations; ensure the UK’s labs remain world class and at the cutting edge of R&D; and offer universities and research organisations the discretion to apply the funding in ways that best suit their local needs. Furthermore they will stimulate and accelerate the growth of the UK’s fusion industry, delivering a thriving UK fusion ecosystem and strengthening the UK’s position as leaders in the future global fusion market.Further to the investments announced today, the government will shortly be announcing new investment and projects to boost the Earth Observation community and mitigate the challenges caused by the delays to association to Copernicus.It remains the government’s preference to associate to EU programmes as envisaged under the TCA, but we cannot wait forever to invest the funding set aside for association in our world-leading R&D sector. Earlier this year we set out details of alternatives proposals which we will implement in the event that association is no longer possible. Further details of these plans will be published shortly.

Department for International Trade

Extension of the UK-Switzerland Services Mobility Agreement

Kemi Badenoch: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Swiss Confederation share a deep and trusted trading relationship. We are two global leaders in services trade with deep links between our economies. As per the Office for National Statistics, in 2021, Switzerland was the United Kingdom’s 6th largest trade in services partner, with trade in services amounting to £18.4bn and accounting for 48% of total UK-Swiss trade. In December 2020, in recognition of this unique relationship, and to avoid disruption for service providers not covered by the mobility arrangements set out in the Citizens Rights Agreement, my Department, in coordination with the Home Office and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy negotiated the Temporary Agreement Between the Swiss Confederation and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on Services Mobility (The Services Mobility Agreement). The Services Mobility Agreement allows UK professionals to travel freely to Switzerland and to work and deliver services visa-free for up to 90 days per year. The Agreement also ensures UK professionals will not face economic interests tests or be required to secure work permits during these first 90 days of service supply. The Agreement also allows Swiss professionals to come to the UK and provide services under contract in a number of key skilled sectors through the UK’s Service Supplier visa for up to 12 months, supporting broader trade in vital industries of the UK economy, including finance, consultancy, legal services, the tech sector and the creative industries. Whilst the Agreement was always intended to be temporary, the UK and Switzerland have agreed to extend the Agreement for a further three years. This will ensure businesses and services providers here in the UK and those in Switzerland are provided with the clarity and certainty they need to continue to make use of this unique and important relationship. The Services Mobility Agreement also established a working group between the UK and Switzerland on the recognition of professional qualifications. I’m pleased to note the working group has had meaningful discussions. The UK’s aim is for an agreement that will provide clarity for suitably qualified professionals on the long-term arrangements to have their qualifications recognised in each Party’s market, whilst protecting regulator autonomy. I will update the House with more information on this in due course. This prolongation will extend the Services Mobility Agreement on its current terms and will enable us to look ahead to negotiations on an enhanced Free Trade Agreement. We look forward to the opportunity that the negotiations present to pursue a comprehensive agreement that is reflective of the UK and Switzerland’s deep and historic trading and political relationship.